You’re working 9-5 in New York, but you’re supervising someone working in Israel. That means you barely have any overlapping worktime, you’re not meeting each other casually while grabbing a coffee from the office kitchen and emails may go unanswered for hours at a time. How can you create a collaborative and seamless workflow, despite the challenges?
Take advantage of overlapping work hours
Chances are that the two of you are both working during morning hours EST, which is the tail end of the workday in Israel. Take advantage of these times by scheduling Zoom meetings, focusing on issues that need immediate feedback and assigning important tasks at a time when questions can be asked and clarification can be provided. Don’t wait until you’re about to go home and it’s the middle of the night in Israel to ask for something to be done. Your team member may have to guess what you had in mind, resulting in your not getting the result you were hoping for.
Use project management tools
Project management tools help keep everyone on track. Avoid lost emails, ignored social media messages and snippets of conversation being forgotten by writing everything down. Provide clear deadlines for tasks and put all the necessary information in one place. These tools are also an easy way for your Israeli team member to keep multiple people updated on what has been done and what still needs to be done. Task management tools encourage collaboration, and transparency reduces the feeling of working alone.
Agree on protocol for urgent communication
Sometimes you just have to contact a team member outside of regular working hours. This can be particularly challenging when it’s not so easy to just pick up the phone. Luckily, twenty-first century technology provides multiple methods for quick communication. The WhatsApp app is popular in Israel and is used for free messaging and calling. It is considered a work tool and is not only reserved for personal communication. Alternatives include team members checking their email or task management tool regularly in the evening, inexpensive international phone plans or Facetime.
Build a culture of trust
No one likes to feel that they are being micromanaged, and remote employees are no exception. Trust your team member to report hours honestly, and focus on results rather than the amount of time spent sitting in a chair. True, they might take a longer lunch hour than they would in the office, but if everything is getting done, does that really matter? Remote workers should be able to step out for a doctor’s appointment and make up the hours later on, or start work early one day and finish early another on another day. When you demonstrate trust, people are more likely to rise to the occasion, creating long-term loyalty.
Turn challenges into advantages
When you’re working remotely across time zones, you do have to put in a little more effort to collaborate successfully. But with willingness on both sides, a transatlantic working relationship can be as fruitful as any other kind. Capitalizing on overlapping work hours, utilizing project management tools, leveraging technology for better communication and fostering trust will transform time zone differences from a hurdle into an advantage.
